This song is actually Stan
and the Ravens, featuring Gary Mallaber, "the late Tommy
Calandra", Ernie Corallo and Stan Szelest. It was produced by David
Lucas* and Carl LaMacchia for Spectrum Sound Productions.

"The
late Stan
Szelest" (1943-1991) formedhis own band in 1958 in Buffalo,
New York called
Stan and the Ravens. He later played piano in early 1960 in one of
Canada's top bands called, Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks. John Till (a later guitarist for The Hawks)
commenting on a live performance by The Hawks in 1960 said: "....the one who really stood out was Stan
Szelest. He just kept bouncing up and down. He was the most incredible musician to watch even back then. He had this Jerry Lee Lewis, curly, blond long hair. His collar was up and he was kicking the piano at the same time as playing it. It was
mesmerizing."

Stan Szelest playing with
Ronnie Hawkins in 1984

Ronnie Hawkins

This was long before the Hawks became Bob Dylan's backup
group, the Band (Robbie
Robertson, "the late Rick Danko," Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, and "the late Richard
Manuel".
When Szelest left the Hawks in 1961 he returned to Western New
York and reformed his group, Stan
and the Ravens.

"The late Tom Calandra" (bass guitar) and
Gary Mallaber
(drums) joined Stan and the Ravens after Pete Haskell
(bass guitar)
and Sandy Konikoff (drums)
departed.

Tony
Galla (vocalist, bass guitar, harmonica,
flute), John Weitz (lead guitar), and
Jim Calire
(piano/organ/sax/vocals)
were in their own band called, Tony Galla and the Rising Sons. They had a regional hit
on Swan Records (#4275) in the mid-60s entitled, In Love. After Stan and the Ravens
split up in early 1967 Calandra and Mallaber joined Galla, Weitz, and
Calire in Tony Galla and The Rising Sons. After only a few gigs together they
eventually became the house band at the legendary Harry Altman's Glen Park Casino
(Inferno).

Tony
Galla and The Rising Sons later changed their name to Ravenin 1968
prior
to moving to New York City.

____________________________

Marty
Angelo - discovers "Raven" locally

Marty Angelo

Marty Angelo
first heard Raven (Tony Galla and The Rising Sons) in early 1965 when he
played piano and organ in
his own band, Shakey's Blues Band. They
appeared with Raven at the Grandview Ballroom in Angola, New York, a
suburb of Buffalo. This was one of the newly re-formed Raven's
first gigs together. Angelo was impressed with their talent and surprised
they were not more successful.

Angelo
eventually became Raven's personal manager. He knew in order for the
group to truly become a successful band, they needed national
exposure. He concentrated all of his efforts to get Raven bookings
outside of the Buffalo, New York area and signed to a recording contract
with a major record
company. Angelo writes more about Raven in his book, Once
Life Matters: A New Beginning.

____________________________

"The
late Jimi
Hendrix" - discovers "Raven" nationally

"The
late Jimi
Hendrix"

Rock and
Roll legend, "the late Jimi Hendrix" had a hand in Raven's
potential national success. Raven manager, Marty Angelo met him in
1967 while trying to arrange a booking for
the band at Steve Paul's
Scene in New York City.
Angelo personally played
Hendrix the same "live" ("Live at the Inferno") tape recording he later sent to Beatle, "the
late George Harrison."

Hendrix
enjoyed the tape so much he persuaded the reluctant club owner,
Steve Paul (at one time was
"the late Tiny
Tim's" and Johnny and Edgar Winter's personal manager)
to book Raven into his famed nightspot. Hendrix and his
business partner, Eddie Kramer, later expressed an interest in
producing Raven for their Electric Ladyland Production Company.
Angelo writes more about his
experience with Hendrix in his book, Once
Life Matters: A New Beginning.

____________________________

"The
late George
Harrison" - discovers "Raven" internationally

"The
late George
Harrison"

Raven was
first discovered internationally by then Beatle, "the late George
Harrison." In 1968, Harrison was sent a live tape recording
("Live at the Inferno") of the band by Raven's personal manager,
Marty Angelo. Harrison liked the tape and sent a telegram to
Angelo expressing his desire to produce Raven for the
Beatles newly formed record label, Apple Records. Harrison's interest in
Raven is mentioned in a Beatles' tell-all book entitled, The
Longest Cocktail Party.
Angelo writes more about his experiences with Harrison and Apple Records in his book, Once
Life Matters: A New Beginning.

Weisglass
Stadiumappearing
with The Rascals,
Savoy Brown, and Albert King.

The
Singer Bowl Music Festivalappearing
with
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Muddy Waters.

Hunter
Collegeappearing with Chuck Berry and
Terry Reid.

Village
Inn - appearing with Spooky Tooth.

Steve
Paul's Scene- various
appearances.

The
Revolution- appearing with Jethro Tull.

Ungano's
Nightclub- various appearances.

Woodstock
Sound Festival - Woodstock NY.

*Producer/Songwriter David
Lucas - helped Raven in its initial quest to secure a major recording
contract. Lucas produced a recording session at A & R Studios in
New York City with the newly formed Raven in 1968. The tape from that
session later helped Raven secure a recording contract with Columbia
Records.